The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection(DEP) has announced the approval of the Mariner East pipelines’s major modification project that will alter the construction method of one portion of the pipeline. The piece of the pipeline at hand runs through the Marsh Creek area in Upper Uwchlan Township in Chester County.
This major modification proposal has been in the works since last April, when the pipeline developer, Energy Transfer, submitted plans to the DEP for approval. This now-official change will alter the construction method from horizontal drilling to open cut, creating a safer construction process overall. There will also be additional alterations to the pipeline route. Since the first proposition in April, dozens of PEIA members and other stakeholders/partners have submitted remarks or testified during hearings pushing for the modification.
As one of the largest economic stimulants in the state of Pennsylvania, the Mariner East pipeline runs more than 300 miles across the commonwealth, connecting natural gas drilling sites in western Pennsylvania to processing plans and market opportunities in eastern Pennsylvania. Marsh Creek, where the major modification will take place, is the final step in finishing the statewide pipeline. Pennsylvanians should rest assured, the Mariner East has been one of the most heavily regulated construction projects ever built in the commonwealth. Test after test, it has hit the standard.
In a PEIA press statement, PEIA Spokesman Kurt Knaus asserted:
“The news of this approval comes at a time when many Pennsylvanians are worried about rising energy prices. Mariner East delivers valuable natural gas resources like propane, which heats homes and powers businesses. DEP’s approval means we can finally get to work to finish this project so we can realize its full potential in Pennsylvania. This modification has broad support because it’s best for the community, good for the environment, and safe for workers.”